From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter?, [4 January 1781]
To George Muter?
[4 January 1781]
Sir
Be pleased to send some trusty person to gather waggons at Hanover town and remove the powder there across the river and so up into the country thirty or forty miles to some church or other place it may be stored.
MS not located. Extract printed from American Art Association sale catalogue, 6–7 Dec. 1921 (Edward Tuckerman Sale), lot 380, a 1-page A.L.S. without designation of addressee.
The recipient’s name has been assigned on the basis of a letter signed by David Lambert for George Anderson to Muter (Vi): “Hanover 6th Jany. 1781. … I have sent the powder according to your directions to the Commanding Officer of Chesterfield in Caroline County.” Another letter from Anderson, dated Richmond, 4 Jan. 1781, and addressed to the Commanding Officer of the Militia near Chesterfield (Vi), states: “I am properly empowered to require you to take charge of the powder … and have same put under a proper Guard, … stored in some Church or other place of Security … untill further orders from the Executive‥‥ This will be delivered to you by Mr. Cary who has charge of the powder.” See also TJ to an unidentified correspondent, following, and George Muter to TJ, 7 Jan.